Anja Nissen from Denmark performs during the Grand Final of the 62nd annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev, Ukraine, 13 May 2017.
Each country holds their own nationwide song competition to pick a favorite; the winners go to the Eurovision final where the best song is chosen by votes from a panel of judges from each country, and also by telephone voters all over the world. The online video stream is available on Pershiy TV website (with a commentary in Ukrainian).
Unfortunately, after artists from 18 different countries performed on the night, Brendan failed to make it into the final 10 - and has therefore not qualified for the final on Saturday night.
"However due to the shelling of Avdiivka and the death of peaceful civilians, I took a decision to cancel my presence at the Eurovision final", he wrote on Facebook.
Though the competition itself explicitly forbids political messaging from the performers, it has not escaped the bruising of a minor political kerfuffle in the leadup: Russia's entrant, Yulia Samoylova, was banned by Ukraine for breaching their laws on unauthorised travel in the Crimea.
As the dust settles on the the odd and surreal clash of nations known as the semi-final heats of the Eurovision Song Contest complete, the field has narrowed dramatically ahead of this weekend's grand final.
As you would have heard, young Aussie singer Isaiah Firebrace made it through to the grand final after a few hiccups in his semi-finals performance.
"I think politics shouldn't intervene", said Liza Ignatieva, a 21-year-old university student in Moscow.
Two days later he killed himself
The boy lay unconscious for 7 1/2 minutes before an assistant principal and school nurse came to his aid. On the day of the assault, his mother Cornelia Reynolds had no idea of what really happened to her son.
"Music is not fireworks, music is feeling ... bring music back which is what matters".
Russian Federation has been angry since previous year, when Ukrainian singer Jamala won the contest with "1944".
This year, Ukraine has used the contest to take tentative steps to soften the climate of homophobia prevalent in the ex-Soviet Union.
Dressed in a Grecian-inspired gown the 26-year-old performed Never Give Up on You winning a rousing reception from the audience. "But they broke the rules of the event by not letting her in". He competed on the third series of Idolos, Portugal's version of Pop Idol in 2009.
Tonight, Alma, whose first images of her performance for Eurovision 2017 were unveiled, will sing for the first time out of competition.
The 21-year-old Denmark representative proved practice makes ideal because she delivered a flawless vocal although her production was light-on with a waterfall of pyros the only concession to Eurovision's special effects agenda. There is also a jury of professionals in each nation to award points.
The contest helped launch the careers of Sweden's ABBA - victors in 1974 with "Waterloo" - Canada's Celine Dion, who won for Switzerland in 1988, and Irish high-steppers Riverdance, the half-time entertainment in 1994. Two Australians through to Eurovision grand final first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.
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